“I’ve signed the contract for regular emptying of the port-a-potties. But that’s different from saying I’m sure they will be [emptied].”

The maestro of Tuesday’s inauguration in his role as executive director of the Presidential Inaugural Committee, Mr. Beliveau is overseeing the 5,000 portable toilets plus 20 Jumbotron television screens, hundreds of shuttle buses, thousands of VIPs, the distribution of event tickets by armored trucks, and what the Obama staff calls “chum” — trinkets being peddled to the masses.

Beliveau has orchestrated just about every Obama campaign event, including the Biden roll-out and the Germany speech to 250,00. He will now be in charge of all domestic and foreign trips for the president. And that also means always having enough portable toilets.